If you saw teams racing around Kendall Square recently in playful pursuit of the Kendall Cup, you caught a glimpse of the excitement of the Kendall Square Challenge! This annual fun and philanthropic competition delivered its most successful year yet, contributing $65,000 to local charities.
Hosted by the KSA, the event commenced at Cambridge Crossing, with missions scattered throughout Kendall all the way to Tech Square. Over 600 participants from 61 teams, gathered for a day of team building, philanthropy and friendly competition.
Dancing challenges were a major hit this year, with groups joyously creating their very own disco routine. At another station, participants were excited to step outside their comfort zone when learning a Bollywood-inspired dance, led by the very talented Purnima Thakre, a board member at Global Arts Live.
Teams take on Global Arts Live’s Bollywood-inspired dance challenge
The diversity of missions was striking— serving as a testament to the exceptional creativity and work that embodies professionals in Kendall and Cambridge. For instance, “Sort to Survive” prompted teams to sort lab plastics into the appropriate Polycarbin recycling bins, whereas “Dunk” rounded up teams in Anthony Costa Park for a highly competitive water balloon toss.
At the galleries of The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, participants embarked on a scavenger hunt that guided them through art installations inspired by current genetic research. One clue invited participants to draw a connection between Van Gogh’s Starry Night and an installation featuring a microscopic image of a human fallopian tube carrying a genetic mutation, showcasing advancing research supporting early prevention of ovarian cancer.
The day’s adventures culminated with a festive block party at Tech Square. Here participants enjoyed a well-earned feast from Area Four, Mex, and Amba along with live music, drinks from Cambridge Spirits, and awards.
The Science Club for Girls was honored with a whopping $16,000 donation thanks in part to the first place team of Amgen, also known as the Trial Blazers. Challenge donations were made to the following local nonprofits:
Science Club for Girls – $16,000
Enroot Education – $13,000
East End House – $10,000
Global Arts Live – $10,000
Fab Foundation – $7,500
Tutoring Plus – $7,500
A massive thank you to presenting sponsors DivcoWest, Sanofi and Johnson & Johnson; platinum sponsor MITIMCo, gold sponsor AstraZeneca; and silver sponsors, Alexandria, Astellas, Bulfinch, Google, Janitronics, Moderna, Microsoft and Vicinity.
The day could not be made possible without the Kendall community’s participation and immense enthusiasm. Companies may want to begin scouting top-talent for next year’s Challenge!
